Starting from the bottom of

the income pyramid (BoP)

A presentation for WAME

Expo Milano 2015. June 17.

Role of :Renewable Energy,

Technology & Innovation

By Shyama V. Ramani

UNU-MERIT&

Friend In Need India

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Base of the Pyramid (BOP) Reality

UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Lack access to electricity or reliable electricity Use of biomass fuels for cooking – walking to get the wood Lack of access to water or safe drinking water – walking to get water Lack of access or lower preference for toilets & waste management Lack of education Lack of healthcare

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Why do we need to change the BOP reality?

Because it’s not fair or just that people should live without basics…

But also because we have a LOT to gain … We get a warm glow from doing good… Companies can increase their profit by selling to them… We can all learn from serving them… Even companies can learn…. Mainstream consumers will be loyal and tend to buy from

companies which are doing good in the long run… And thus changing the BoP reality is a SMART way to fight

polarization, targeted hatred against groups, distress emigration, terrorism and climate change…

From Energy, poverty and development – UNDP (2010)

Where are the energy poor?

55

Source : IFC – World bank group (2006) The Next Four Billion

• - Improving the Quality of Life of the 4 bn people living in poverty through innovative solutions and –0-comprehensive business models: • - not charity• - creating value for

business and society• through multi-sector

collaboration

Where’s energy in the BoP markets?

Installation of the Solar drier in Kameswaram beach September 2008

Sun - the fabulous renewable source & my Solar Saga.

Training fisherwomen thereafter

A Fence is needed ! And a Lock ! And Ownership Rights !

By 2009 – a new safety hazard in the village

2011-2013

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Moral of the story…..for renewable energy for the BoP..Go through the checklist for successful diffusion…

innovation satisfies technological and social appropriateness

Available

Technology design

Confirm/Createdemand

Confirm need

Confirmsustained use

Confirmadoption and

growth

Adequate knowledge and skills to use innovation

Supporting financial schemes

Maintenance services

Incentive schemes for sustained use and continuous innovation

Regulation to ensure safety

Accessible

Affordable

Social protocols

Context requirements

Delivery design

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Mirror Mirror on the wall – which is the best innovation of them all?

P.S.- for the BoP setting?

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Mirror Mirror on the wall – which is the best product or technology or innovation

of them all? P.S.- for the BoP setting?

?

?

Why ? Because life is about keeping up with the Joneses …. And catching-up with the non-BoP communities…

Low demand for nontraditional cookstove technologiesBy Mobarak et al. (2011)

If it’s only for the poor you might as well give it free …

Benefits of Harvesting Urine (Courtesy: SCOPE, Trichy India)

• Conservation of water and infrastructure (water and waste water)

• Energy Conservation

• Use as fertilizer (Direct application, struvite, composting, etc.)

• Use as industrial feed stock (NH3, H2)

• Improved wastewater treatment

You can improve access to sustainable energy without a lot of money also….

Sustainable energy with new behavioural routines

Ecosan ProgramImplementation atBangalore, India

Source:Lokesh

Urine & Faeces

Fertilizer

Urine

Source : GTZ

Human Excreta is a Potent Fertilizer An

example

(Courtesy: SCOPE, Trichy India)

SCOPE, Trichy 18

Food Waste

Bio digester Bio gas

Food waste and kitchen waste can be converted into good manure and also for production of gas for cooking

(Courtesy: SCOPE, Trichy India)

For this, we need to “change the ownership of the

energy discussion.  It is not about poor people’s energy access

— it is about green power period”*.

*http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2013/04/why-africa-is-missing-the-solar-electricity-boat.html

“The message is paradoxical – in Europe, solar is for the green-minded middle class

and rich.  In Africa, solar is for disenfranchised communities in distant off-

grid counties.”*

*http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2013/04/why-africa-is-missing-the-solar-electricity-boat.html

Sustainability – over time and for environment = Quality

Availability – over space in sufficient quantity;

Affordability – within their budget;

Aspirational – it should symbolize catching-up and not being ….poor; Attractive – things for the poor is often equated to being ugly; Repairability – poor cannot afford to throw away;

Safe – things for the poor are usually low in quality.

At the micro-level – for sustainable energy for all

For any solution - Think - SAAAARS

Policy – there is a need to rewrite policies, regulatory frames promoting sustainability and access; enabling environment; Industrial capabilities – in renewable energy Sectors; Manpower, scientific, technological and innovative. Incentives – via Industrial policy, competition policy, S&T;

Partnership – Need for creative partnerships;

Leaders – Leaders among firms, among bureaucrats, among scientists and among social enterprises must emerge. Entrepreneurship – of all kinds – institutional, techno, business, scientific is needed.

At the macro-level – for sustainable energy for all - Think

PIIPLE

Thank You for

Listening !